Sue Restan
The launch of a public consultation on the proposed guidelines for political TV debates has been described as a “welcome step”.
Two recent opinion polls have shown substantially increased support for the SNP as the general elections looms and membership of the party has surged to make it the third biggest in the UK.
And pressure has been mounting on broadcasters to alter their proposals and to include the SNP in TV debates.
In response to criticism of the proposal to exclude the Nationalists from televised leaders’ debates, a spokesman for the BBC is reported to have said: “Opinion polls are part of that evidence whereby we take account of consistent and robust trends across different polls over time, rather than reacting to individual polls.
“We have also said that we will continue to look at any further evidence of changes in electoral support as we get closer to the election campaign.
“The BBC Trust will be launching a public consultation on the relevant guidelines next week.”
West Scotland SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell said: “With the SNP now the third largest party in the UK by some considerable distance and two opinion polls this week showing a surge in support, it would be utterly unacceptable for the broadcasters to exclude the SNP from coming TV debates.
“The announcement that the BBC Trust is to launch a public consultation on this issue is a welcome one.
“It will give people the opportunity to make their views known to the BBC and I have no doubt that there will be extensive backing for including the SNP in these debates.”